Xypex products waterproof and protect new Melbourne Zoo enclosure

Stories from the Sea is a new and upcoming enclosure where patrons of the Melbourne Zoo will be able to get up close to Seals, Fiddler Rays, Fairy Penguins, Sea Dragons and other Marine Life.

Zoos Victoria together with Kane Constructions have created a state of the art marine enclosure, up to five metres deep. The enclosure shares similar characteristics with other Zoos Victoria exhibits and has been designed to be a sustainable ecosystem through the recycling of water.

The project follows on from many previously successful Zoos Victoria projects for Xypex Australia, where its products have been used to waterproof and protect concrete structures, including Trail of the Elephants and the new hippo enclosure at Werribee Zoo.

Xypex Admixture has been certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia  as an Environmentally preferable material and was chosen to be used in all the concrete water retaining structures for the new enclosure. Xypex Admixture, when dosed into concrete, generates a non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete that permanently seals the concrete and prevents the penetration of water from any direction.

In addition to its Admixture,  Xypex Australia provided products and systems to totally waterproof and protect the concrete and reinforcing steel from the penetration of chlorides from the marine environment. This included all construction joints,  treated with Rawseal RC50 water stop in combination with  Kuniseal C-31 DS water stop and treated with Xypex Concentrate.  All penetrations throughout the concrete enclosure where waterproofed with Rawseal CJ2025 water Stop.

Rawmat High Density Bentonite Membrane was used to line the Estuary which is a component of the eco-friendly water recycling system. The project highlights the unique capabilities of Xypex Australia to provide a complete waterproofing solution.

The enclosure is expected to opened to the public late 2009.